Salem, Dec 19 (UNI) Ahead of the high stakes Assembly

elections due in 4-5 months, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister

Edappadi K Palaniswami on Saturday kickstarted his

poll campaign and that of the ruling AIADMK from his

hometown of Edappadi constituency in this district.

He hit the campaign trail after offering prayers at the

Sendraya Perumal temple in Periyasoragai, Mettur.

This would be the first elections the state would be

facing without two tall leaders--former Chief Ministers

J Jayalalithaa (AIADMK) and M Karunanidhi (DMK)--

who had passed away in 2017 and 2018, respectively.

This Assembly elections would be an acid test for both

the dravidian parties with the AIADMK banking on its

achievements and the legacy of party founder charismatic

MGR and Jayalalithaa, while DMK, which too has started

the campaign, alleging that the ruling dispensation was

corrupt and had failed to handle the corona pandemic

properly.

Mr Palaniswami, who was announced as the AIADMK's

Chief Ministerial candidate that put at rest some intra-party

differences, had already confirmed that his party's

alliance with the BJP, forged in 2019 Lok Sabha polls,

would continue, a fact also affirmed by Party Coordinator

and Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam at an event

in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah in the

city.

Mr Palaniswami said since he had to visit other places,

he would not be able to visit the constituency often.

Hence, considering the request from the AIADMK cadres,

he decided to launch his election campaign from today.

After the prayers, where the temple authorities gave him

the traditional Poorna Kumbh honour, Mr Palaniswami

walked for a good distance and met the people as part

of the campaign.

Later, he boarded a van, which was fitted with public

address system and canvassed votes by asking the

people to vote for the AIADMK and enable it to complete

a hat trick of wins.

Hitting hard at the Opposition DMK for its oft-repeated

criticism of his government, the Chief Minister said

the false campaign would not prevent the AIADMK

from winning the polls.

Recalling various challenges faced by his government,

including cyclones, floods and the COVID-19 pandemic,

he said even Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded his

government for effective handling of the pandemic.

Due to the various measures taken by his government,

Mr Palaniswami said the spread of the virus was under

control in the State and the mortality rate too was very

low.

He appealed to the people to ensure a massive mandate

for the AIADMK to ensure continuance of the various

welfare measures introduced by it by following the

path shown by 'Amma' (as Ms Jayalalithaa was called).

Stating that MGR founded the AIADMK to ensure that

the poor get their basic rights, Mr Palaniswami said

his (MGR's) regime was the golden period as he had

fulfilled Anna’s dream.

He also highlighted his government’s achievements and

said initiatives such as 2,000 mini clinics across the

state would further benefit the poor.

Mr Palaniswami covered several areas in the constituency

in the campaign vehicle and also addressed public meetings.

UNI GV 1520